Wednesday, December 12, 2018

I don't mind snow days so much when I get to see Elisabeth, Hannah, Ryan and Abby! We had so much fun today! We played games inside, went to lunch at Wendy's, came back to the house and went to the woods to do some sledding. Then we went back to the house to dry our clothes, wait for Papaw Mark to bring supper home and then go back to the woods for some more fun! We will ALL sleep well tonight!

Sunday, December 9, 2018

With the holidays approaching and visitors coming, I really wanted to get all the boxes of books out of the hallway. So we began working on the "office."

Here are some of the boxes of Tim's books that I wanted stored in the office, last door on the left down the hall. All of these books (and more) came from the church office.

We cleared the toys and race cars off of these shelves and have stored the games in the kids' room and the cars in tubs down in the basement.

Here are most of the boxes after I emptied them and stored the books on the shelves.

They need a bit more organizing, but the shelves are full! I'm not sure what I am going to do with the degrees and certificates of Tim's. I may remove them from the frames and put them in scrapbooks.

Progress!

SNOW!
Wow! We got almost 13 inches of snow when Mark measured this morning! It has continued to snow all day and it has changed over to sleet. Church was called off. Mark's work for tomorrow has been called off. My dentist appointment was rescheduled. The widows' meeting for December has been canceled. I'm sure the Mallard Ridge services will be canceled.

Four-wheelers have been up and down the road in front of the house all day today. Not much other traffic, except snow plows and a few brave souls!

Taken at 1:20 a.m.

Taken at 8 a.m.

So peaceful-looking!

So pretty!

You can't tell in this picture, but the neighbor across the road had her metal car port to collapse under the weight of the snow. It was laying on top of her car!

Asher had trouble coming back up the steps with the layer of ice on top.

Mark went to the woods with Piper around 10 a.m. Piper had fun frolicking in the snow. He tried to ride the 4-wheeler but the snow was too deep!

Beautiful!

Thank You, Lord, for the beauty in the snow! And now I will thank You to begin the melting process, I pray!

3 dental appointments (knocked one out today)
Christmas activities with family (conflicts have already ensued)

Speaking of conflicts, I've had to re-schedule one church function for our ladies. Another monthly church activity has been canceled due to the holidays. Tis the season! Fa-la-la-la-la.......

Something GREAT began on the first day of December, however................

I've moved enough stuff into the #craftroom that I only have a small pathway down the middle. So, I decided it was time to start working on the organization of it all! I still have craft stuff to move from the parsonage, but I can't do it until I get some of the floor space cleared. So, I decided the best way would be to begin with the books.

So, I took my coffee (in my Pioneer Woman's RED thermos), some screws, a sanding block, a drill and the L-brackets Mark made for me; got a comfy chair and began installing shelves between the studs of my storage building..............

WOOHOO!!! One down, LOTS more to go!

WOOHOO!!! Two down, still LOTS more to go.................

I decided to put the books on the shelves as I went along for three reasons. One (the main one) was to get the books off of the floor! Two was so I could measure the height needed for the shelves depending on the height of the books (subject to change later). Third, so I could know how many more boards I'm going to need cut and whether the 4" would work on the wider, taller books.

I decided to put the books all in one area. I originally was going to take the books down only four shelves (as in the very first stud area far left in above picture). Below that would be craft storage under sections of "counter" that could be lowered by folding up the legs (kind of like in the following picture found on pinterest).

But, I decided it would be better to contain the books all in a group, no matter how many studs are required. I'll run the books the entire 6' height of the walls and put a reading light, a small table, and a chair in that corner.

Then I plan to divide the rest of the #craftroom up into sections.......arts and crafts, sewing, knitting/crochet, etc. Each section will have it's own "counter" for work-in-progress. I won't be doing any painting or anything.......at least, not now. I'm too anxious to get everything in working order!

Guests!

Guess what? I felt comfortable enough with the house situation being what it is (still boxes lining the hall and a wall in the living room) to invite guests over for dinner! I loved it! There is still LOTS of work to be done, but I cannot put my life on hold until the last box is unpacked! I don't think that will happen in this lifetime! It is what it is! 😉

Mark and I worked our first puzzle on the coffee table that we brought from the parsonage that was in the man cave. The table top can be lifted up and pulled to you for the purpose of eating at the couch, which is what Tim did a lot on the weekends, especially while watching the TV. It worked great for working on the puzzle while watching TV! (I see many more puzzles in our future, Mark!) 😁

I'm debating whether to hodge podge this one and framing it for the wall. LOVE buying puzzles at the thrift for dirt cheap and finding ALL of the pieces are there! WIN!!

Sunday, November 18, 2018

I have been so blessed by the members of the First Baptist Church in Eleanor, WV. Since Tim's death, several persons and a Sunday school class have sent cards to me, reminding me that they are praying for me. I recently got one that was marked with "sealed with a prayer" on the back. How wonderful to know that others who love the Lord are praying for me! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

When Tim resigned the pastorate at the Buffalo Baptist Church, we were making visits to other churches in the area when he did not have a church lined up to preach in. First Baptist in Eleanor, WV was one of those churches. We visited there a couple of times. Tim and the pastor were friends. They didn't agree on everything, but they agreed to disagree. Romans 12:18 instructs us, "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live
peaceably with all men."

And the people there have shown their love of God by their actions towards another of God's children.....me. 1 John 3:14 says, "We know that we have passed from death unto life,
because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death."

James 1:27 says, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the
Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to
keep himself unspotted from the world." I have been "visited" many times over the last year + since becoming a widow. Thank you, First Baptist Church of Eleanor, WV! And thanks in particular goes to: Vicki Hicks, Linda Harris, Joyce Stotts, Brent and Brenda Clendenin, John and Karen McClung, Judy and Dale Allen, the Peacemakers Sunday School Class, and there may be others. These are names signed on the cards I have kept. If I have missed someone, I apologize! Thank you all for your many, many prayers on my behalf!

Now that I am married again, I think it is time for them to shower their love and prayers on another one of God's children. Perhaps another widow or widower. They are growing in number everyday and I don't want to be selfish. It has been said that it is not a good thing to be a man in the Hillcrest Baptist Church. All of our men have died, who were married and members, except for 3. There are 4 or 5 others who attend but are not members. And there is Mark, who lost his wife several years ago, but now he has me! I believe there are 8 women in total at the Hillcrest Baptist Church who have lost their husbands; two of us being married again.

Thank You, Lord, for your guiding hand on my life! Thank You for those faithful to send cards at the First Baptist Church in Eleanor, WV. Thank You for bringing Mark into my life. Thank You for You!

(especially with reference to an alcoholic drink) mature or
allow to mature.

"the wine ages in open vats or casks"

synonyms:

grow/become/get old, mature, (cause to)
decline, weather, fade; More

determine how old (something) is.

"we didn't have a clue how to age these animals"

When I look at pictures of my first grandchild, I realize he is no longer a baby. He is an adult! A young adult, but an adult just the same. That's when I feel my "elderliness, old age, oldness" kick in. How can it be that I was telling my oldest daughter (yesterday??) that I was too young to be a grandma! And now he is a Senior! Oh, my! Where have the years gone?

Our pastor back in the early 80's, Brother Robert Ginn, taught from the book of Revelation. I made the comment to Tim that I didn't think Jessica, our oldest (momma to the "young adult") would be old enough to begin school before the Lord would return. And here we are, 30+ years later, and Michael is getting ready to graduate from High School. Some days I really feel old!

It is hard to imagine living 969 years like Methuselah did! Further more, I don't believe I would want to live that long in this wicked world! But, just like every single person who has ever lived, my days are numbered. I cannot do anything to add to those days; the number only God knows.

Jessica took these pictures to count as Michael's Senior pictures. I think they turned out great! I'm not sure if she is finished or will be taking more at a later time.

LOVE this one!

Handsome guy!

My prayer for you, my dear grandson, is that you love the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In ALL of your ways I pray you will trust the Lord and let Him lead your steps. I pray you will keep Him in the center of your life! I love you! I'm thankful God gave me the opportunity to be your grandma!

Friday, Ilene and I did some running around and ate lunch at Olive Garden. I so enjoy being in her company!

Aren't those trees gorgeous?!

I took this picture through the windshield. Can you see the tree that is lying horizontally into the other tree?

Saturday, Elisabeth and family came up so Ryan could get some target practice in before he heads to WV with his dad to do some deer hunting next week. So while the boys shot their guns, the girls went shopping. We went to 3 or 4 Goodwills and a Mega Thrift and Hamericks. But before we separated to do our "things" we went to lunch at Real Q here in Wallburg.

Trying to figure out how to do a selfie by using my hand to signal the phone when to take the picture. Let's just say, I still need to work on that!

Abby stayed behind with the boys. We had a great time! The sun was beautiful all day, but it was cold!

We had Mark's "adopted" grandson, Noah staying with us Friday night through Sunday evening. Today we went to lunch at Ilene's. Ilene's granddaughter, Katelyn and her fiancee, Joey stopped by. They ended up playing Monopoly Deal (card game version of Monopoly) with Noah and Mark. Ilene and I just talked and visited together. We spent all afternoon with her, took her to church and then dropped Noah off at home on the way to drop Ilene off at home. We ordered Chinese for dinner.

This will be a busy week.
Monday is Mallard Ridge services.
Tuesday is the widows' meeting in Statesville.
Wednesday church is called off.
Friday through Sunday is Revival.
Saturday morning the church is going to Golden Chorale for breakfast.